Apparatus for treating air



W. C. MARTIN, JR., ETAL dJune 29, 1965 United States Patent() 3,191,363 APPARATUS FR TREATING AIR William C. Martin, Jr., Syracuse, and Harris S. Rush, 'Clay, NY., assignors to Carrier Corporation, Syracuse, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 7, 1961, Ser. No. 101,579 6 Claims. (Cl. 55-257) This invention relates to an apparatus for treating air and, more particularly, to an apparatus for treating air of the type generally used in air conditioningand air Washing systems, wherein a rotating eliminator removes Water particles from an air stream. This invention also relates to a novel eliminator structure.

-In the Ernest C. Hungate Patent No. 2,932,360, entitled Apparatus for Treating Air, there is disclosed an apparatus for treating air which wholly departs from previous concepts of apparatus of this type. In the above-mentioned patent, the apparatus includes a casing having means for passing an air stream therethrough. Means are provided for placing the stream in direct contact with Water, such means usually comprising a plurality of spray members capable of discharging finely divided particles of water into the air stream. A bladed rotor which functions as an eliminator is placed Within the casing, usually adjacent the outlet, to remove entrained Water particles from the discharge air stream. This eliminator may include a plurality of radially extending blades which have an annular enclosing means placed abou-t the periphery of the bladed structure. These blades preferably are oriented in such a manner that the axial projections of the blades overlap.

The chief object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus for treating air.

A further object is to provide an improved eliminator structure for use in an apparatus for treating air.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved and inexpensive bladed rotor construction.

Other objects of the invention will be readily perceived from the following description.

This invention relates to an apparatus for treating air which comprises a casing, means for passing an air stream through the casing, means lfor placing the air stream in contact with a -spray of water, a bladed eliminator for removing entrained Water particles from the air stream, and means for rotatably mounting the eliminator, the eliminator having a shroud `at least partially enclosing the periphery of the blades, the shroud being formed from a linel wound about the blades, the adjacent turns of the line engaging one another, the line being connected to each blade at the extremity thereof.

This invention also relates to a bladed rotor comprising a rotatable hub, a plurality of blades lsecured to the hub and a shroud at least partially enclosing the periphery of the blades, the shroud being formed from a substantially continuous line treated -with `a self-extinguishing thermo-setting resin.

The attached drawing illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention in which:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional view of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the eliminator of the apparatus of FIGURE l.

FIGURE 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a method of fabricating the eliminator of the present invention.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown in FIGURE 1 an apparatus for treating air embodying the present invention. The apparatus includes a casing 3 which consists of a main lsection 4 and an inlet section 5 which is of a smaller diameter than the main section 4. Fan 6 is loof'suitable struts 7.

. 32,191,363 Patented June 29, 1955 A Water supply line 8 extends through the main section 4 and is connected to the lsupply header -9 which extends longitudinally Within the main -section 4. A plurality of banks of lines 16 extend from the supply head 9. Suitable nozzles 11 `are located at the extremities of the individual lines 10. Drain 12 is located in the bottom portion of the main section 4 to remove water from the sump 13 of the unit. j

At the end of the main section 4 is located an exit portion 15, wherein is mounted a suitable bearing 17. This bearing 17 is mounted by means of suitable struts16. A shaft 18 is journalled Within the bearing 17 Mounted on the shaft 18 is the bladed rotor 19, which is the eliminating device of the present apparatus.

This eliminator comprises a plurality of radially extending blades Z1 which are attached to a novel frusto-conical shaped enclosing means or shroud 22. These yblades cooperate with the surfaces -of adjacent blades to define a plurality of zigzag passages through the bladed structure in a manner more fully described in the previously mentioned patent of Ernest C. Hungate.

Considering the operation of the apparatus,rin FIGURE 1 air is induced through the casing 3 by means of the fan 6. As the air stream passes through the casing, Water is passed into the line 8 through the spray header 9 and is discharged through the nozzles 11 thereby filling the main section 4 of the casing with a fine water spray. The humidity of the air and also the temperature of the air passing through the unit is affected by this relation with the water spray. As the air passes through the exit portion of the casing, it will tend to carry undesirable entrained Water particles.

To remove these entrained water particles from the air stream, the eliminator structure 19 is provided. The bladed structure rotates and intercepts the water particles as it passes through the zigzag passages in the bladed structure and returns the water into the casing to be discharged through the drain 12. The operation of the apparatus in FIGURE 1 is fully described in the previously described patent of Ernest C. Hungate.

The blade members Z1 compr-isc a plurality Iof surfaces which -are angularly disposed with respect to one another. The blades are rig-idly atiixed to hub 23, which is secured to Shaft 18 by suitable hub-mounting means 24, which may be of lconventional design. A preferred manner of `connecting the bla-des to lthe hub is described in Richmond S. Hayes, Jr., Patent No. 3,073,096, issued January 15, 1963.

In essence, the shroud 22 (FIGURE 2) 4is formed from one or more layers of line 25 wound onto the blade structure [and suitably bonded thereto. The resul-tant eliminator has superior strength yand the manufacturing cost thereof is substantially less than the cost of previous eliminators of this type.

In constructing the eliminator, first an eliminator sublassembly 36 is fabricated. The blades are shaped as illustrated in the aforementioned Hung-ate patent. The 4outer edge of each blade 21 is smoothed along both the length and Width thereof to prevent tearing or fracturing of the line in subsequent fabrication. The edge of each blade 21 may be mechanically rounded as by grinding. However amore satisfactory and expeditious method of effecting the same |result is to dip `the end of each blade into a thermo-setting resin to form a lbead 26 thereon. Another manner of rounding the -outer edge of each blade which would be apparent to those versed in the art would be to .apply -a molded blade tip cap. The blade member-s are secured to hub 23 to form the eliminator subassembly 36. This eliminator subassembly is mounted von shaft 37 (see FIGURE 3).

The collapsible lsupport member 40, which defines a surface conforming to the inner configuration of `the l spool 31 upon ywhich is wound Iline 25.

shroud is positioned adjacent the eliminator subassembly. The -surface of the member may be covered with a v.layer of, materiaLas forexample, tetr-aluoroethylene, to prevent adherence of the resin-impregnated line.l The collapsible support member may be manually actuated or' may be power actuated.

Y-At the supply station 30 there lis mounted Aa drum or The line is prefer-ably formed from glass iibers Ior filaments. Fibers or filaments made of nylonof polyester materials, for

example Dacron.may be used, as will be apparent to roving 25 extends throughv a tensioning mechanism 32 into the tank -33 containing the catalyzed thermosetting resin. A suitable resin is Hetron 31 manufactured by Durez Plastics Division of Hooker Chemical Corporation. As the line or tape leaves the tank 33, the excess resin is wiped off at station 34 and returned t-o the tank. The line extends through the feed mechanism .35 and is 'secured at one end of the eliminator subassembly mounted lon the shaft 37. Shaft 37 is rota-ted by la suitable drive mechan-ism 38 which may include an electric motor and gear reduction mechanism. f The feed mechanism is operatively connected -to the drive mechanism by suitable linkage B9.- A

An Vend of the line is secured to the eliminator su'byassembly 36 to wind the line onto the periphery of the eliminator structure, and the drive mechanism is actuated to rotate shaft 37. The. rotation of the eliminator structure will draw the line from the spoolS-ll ythrough vvthe resin tank 33 Vwherein the linewill be impregnated with the resin. `At wipe-ofxstation 34, the excess resin will be removed. Feed mechanism 35, will regulate the winding lof the line onto the periphery ofthe blades'. T he line may be `woundtso. that adjacent turns contact'one tudinal support for the portion of the compelted shroud overhang-ing the blades. e

A second layer 43 of resin-impregnatediine is wound -over the first layer 42 and covers the backing material.

For added strength, additional layers of line may be Awound Vlon each end of the shroud as clearly -seen in FIG- URE 2. Y Y

When the resin sets, the collapsible support member having a resinous material covering the outer peripheral edge thereof and at least a first planar portion and a second planar portion, said portions being angularly disposed with respect to each other and intersecting with a line drawn radially from said hub, said blades defining a plurality of axial paths each having at least one change in direction and means for at least partially enclosing the periphery of said blades, said meanscomprisingat least one layer formed from a substantially continuous line dipped in a resinous material wound successively over said Vblade, periperal edges toform a substantially uninterrupted surface, fabric. means around apart of said one layer, said fabric means extending in an axial direction beyond one edge of said one layer, and atleastone additional layer formed from .a substantially continuous line dipped in a resinous material wound successively over said fabric means and said one layer.

2. In an apparatus for treating air, the combination of a casing, means for passing an air stream throughthe casing, means for placing the air stream in contact with a spray of water, a bladedveliminator for removing entrained water particles from the air stream, and means for rotatably mounting said eliminator, said eliminator having a shroud ,at least partially enclosing the periphery of the blades, said vshroud being formed froma substantially continuous line treated with a thermosetting liquid resin wound successively over the outer peripheral'edges of said blades to form a substantially uninterrupted surface, said `resin bridging between the sides of said blades and said line, said resin when cured lpreventing movement between said line and said blades.

3. lA bladed rotor comprising a'rotatable hub, a plurality ofblades secured to said hub, each Vof said blades havingia thermosetting resin coveringpat the periphery `thereof,. and' a shroudat least` partially enclosing said and said line, said line treating resin when cured preventing relative movement between said line and said`r blades. 4. A bladed rotor as y( :lairnf'l wherein the line is formedA from glass filaments v coated with said resin.

`5. A bladed rotor comprising a rotatable hub, a plurality of blades secured to said Ahub aridiay shroud atleast i I partially enclosing the periphery of the blades, said shroud is removed. The resultant eliminator is provi-ded with a strong and rigid shroud.`

This method of fabricating an eliminator or bladed rotor is simple and relatively inexpensive. 1

The connection between the blades andthe shroud is in essence a beadwhich is smooth and obviates the ad- We have, therefore, provided .an improved eliminator structure for use in an apparatus for treating air.

yherence thereto of lint or other materials removed from v the air stream by the eliminator structure.

The present invention has been illustrated with partheinvent-i-on is not limited thereto since it may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the claims.

We claim:

1.l Inan eliminator for removing droplets of water from an air stream, a rotatably mounted hub, a plurality of blades extending radially therefrom, each of said blades is apparent that -this type of structure may be used in comprising la rst layer formed from a substantially contlnuous linel treated lwith a thermosetting resin wound successively over the outer peripheral edge of said blades to form a substantially uninterrupted surface,y said resin bridging between the outer edges of said blades and said line, said re`s1n when cured preventing relative movement between said. line and said blades, a backing'materil over 'i a portion of said rst layer includingonefend thereof,

apart of said backing material extending axially beyond said rst layer one end, and at least onlayer formed from said substantially continuous line wound successively over said backing material and the remaining part of said rst layer- Y 6. A bladed rotor asin claim v5 in which each of said plural blades comprise a rigid blade-like member having a thermosetting resin coveringy at the outer edge thereof.

'i References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS HARRY B. THORNTON, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN AN ELIMINATOR FOR REMOVING DROPLETS OF WATER FROM AN AIR STREAM, A ROTATABLY MOUNTED HUB, A PLURALITY OF BLADES EXTENDING RADIALLY THEREFROM, EACH OF SAID BLADES HAVING A RESINUOUS MATERIAL COVERING THE OUTER PERIPHERAL EDGE THEREOF AND AT LEAST A FIRST PLANAR PORTION AND A SECOND PLANAR PORTION, SAID PORTIONS BEING ANGULARLY DISPOSED WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER AND INTERSECTING WITH A LINE DRAWN RADIALLY FROM SAID HUB, SAID BLADES DEFINING A PLURALITY OF AXIAL PATHS EACH HAVING AT LEAST ONE CHANGE IN DIRECTION AND MEANS FOR AT LEAST PARTIALLY ENCLOSING THE PERIPHERY OF SAID BLADES, SAID MEANS COMPRISING AT LEAST ONE LAYER FORMED FROM A SUBSTANTIALLY CONTINUOUS LINE DIPPED IN A RESINOUS MATERIAL WOUND SUCCESSIVELY OVER SAID BLADE PERIPHERAL EDGES TO FORM A SUBSTANTIALLY UNINTERRUPTED SURFACE, FABRIC MEANS AROUND A PART OF SAID ONE LAYER, SAID FABRIC MEANS EXTENDING IN AN AXIAL DIRECTION BEYOND ONE EDGE OF SAID ONE LAYER , AND AT LEAST ONE ADDITIONAL LAYER FORMED FROM A SUBSTANTIALLY CONTINUOUS LINE DIPPED IN A RESINOUS MATERIAL WOUND SUCCESSIVELY OVER SAID FABRIC MEANS AND SAID ONE LAYER. 